Santa Anita
Oaks: Hot Storm holds on
BENOIT PHOTO Robert Adams' Hot Storm and jockey Jerry Bailey, inside, beat She's a Jewel and Rene Douglas to the finish to win the $250,000 Sunshine Millions Pepsi-Cola Oaks on Saturday at Santa Anita Park.
Hot Storm gave Florida-breds an early victory with a hard-fought win in the $250,000 . Her victory marked a rare occasion when a mount ridden by Hall of Fame jockey Jerry Bailey was let go at 21-1 and prevailed.
Bailey was never able to save ground on Hot Storm ($44.40). Breaking from post 12, Hot Storm stalked pacesetter Eleventh Street through an opening quarter-mile in 21.26 seconds, and was outside of a four-filly duel on the turn before taking the lead in early stretch.
Hot Storm led by 1 1/2 lengths at the eighth pole and was fully extended to win by a head over She's a Jewel, another Florida-bred. Memorette, a California-bred, finished third in the field of 12.
Hot Storm, trained by Dallas Stewart, finished six furlongs in 1:09.16.